Pathians are generally calm and deliberative, though once spurred to action or an opinion, they are rarely deterred. Perhaps the best example of such is the isolationism that came about after the divorce of Oberon and Clarissa which persisted for over a millennia before the recent overture towards Amber by officially staffing their Embassy once again.

The years of isolation have sunk in deep, as very few natives ever leave the island, having no interest in meeting the outside world. Such duties are generally carried out by the recently immigrated citizens, usually returning to the lands of their birth.

Immigration to Pathi is by invitation-only, and usually limited to those children that Testers have found to have talent in the Gift. These children immediately begin their education in the Academy system, which they generally will not leave until sometime in their 20s or even 30s.

Education is very important to all, and this is evidenced by the fact that almost no one leaves an Academy early by choice. In fact, the structure of the government and one's right to participate depends on being either enrolled or an alumnus of an Academy.

Almost every citizen has some facility with a form of magic, though this runs stronger in some than others. Those who find that this does not afford a career are directed into other support careers, which carries no disrespect. The idea of menial jobs is foreign to them, as such are generally carried out by everyone. Servants are professionals who run households as opposed to laborers.

Another favored profession, sometimes even among those with significant talent, is agriculture, either tending vegetables or fruit, or animals such as goats or sheep.

It is considered impolite for anyone but the Custos to have weapons visibly worn on their person, although exceptions are made for soldiers and guards who are on duty. Only the elite order of Custos has the distinctive honour of being armed at all times in Pathi.1

This does not imply that the sorcerers go unarmed. Concealing weapons beneath thin fabrics or constructing them into innocuous items of everyday objects has risen to an art form in Pathi—for example, a pen which can spring up into a dagger, or long knives strapped against inner thighs or along the arms. The more exaggerated ways, such as the tale of a particular sorcerer’s tendencies to turn a chamber pot into a bludgeoning weapon so he could club rats to death, is a little less common, but it is not unheard of to have sorcerers carrying just a hilt in their pockets so they could craft a firesword or wind blade at a moment’s notice.